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Seeing Mari Llewellyn now, you’d never think that she struggled with her weight.
She runs a successful fitness company, Mari Fitness, which was started in 2017, and she launched a new project, Bloom Nutrition, in 2019.
However, she did not always have such a well-rounded approach to weight loss; when Mari was a senior at Drexel University, she had reached her heaviest weight at 245 pounds and felt like she was at rock bottom. However, within a year, she managed to lose 70 lbs., and now has dropped around 90 lbs, total.
Keep reading for how she did it!
Mari told SheFinds: "The turning point in my weight loss journey was right at the beginning. My mental health had gotten so bad that I had to drop out of school and move home with my Dad. I had no goals, no job, and my health overall was at its worst. Hitting rock bottom allowed me to reflect on my life and realize how much potential I truly had. I lost 70 pounds in the first year, and I’m down 90 pounds total now."
Although her speedy success speaks to an effective weight loss plan, that does not mean her results were instantaneous.
In fact, Mari suggests starting with baby steps: "Start with baby steps! Many people think they have to make a dramatic life change when starting a fitness journey. I find this to be too intimidating - and often means people give up too quickly. The key is to just START! Even if it’s with small changes."
She continues, "For example, I began by simply taking more walks with my dog Lulu."
Other small lifestyle changes can make all the difference.
Mari recommends that you finish eating around 6-7 PM each night, explaining that for her it "helped my digestion overall and helped me monitor the amount I was eating daily."
She also suggests incorporating exercise into your daily rituals--even if the workouts are not super intense.
"I set a 'twice a day sweat' rule for myself. I made sure I was getting my heart rate up at least twice in one day, whether it was outside on a walk or at the gym. I still follow this rule now!" she tells us.
Lastly, start drinking more water ASAP.
This lifestyle change will help your overall health by keeping you hydrated and might make it easier for you to practice portion control.
Plus, it means that you'll be able to do better with your workouts as well. Mari explained, "Up your water intake as much as you can. Get yourself a gallon jug to finish by the end of each day. This is a fun and easy challenge that will make you feel and perform so much better."
Once you've made these lifestyle adjustments, Mari says it takes discipline for sustainable change to occur--and it might take some time before you start seeing noticeable results. If you feel up for the challenge, check out her fitness guides here!
